Abstract
M.A.
Wife abuse as a social construct had no reality until 1970 and as a result violence against
women remained invisible and seemingly non-existent. When wife abuse was named, a new
reality was created and for the first time women's experiences were acknowledged and
validated. The process of naming, largely as a result of the efforts of many active feminists,
generated an alternative reality providing the space for many new narratives to emerge.
Research has shown that wife abuse is not a rare phenomenon. Conservative estimates suggest
that at least one in four women in South Africa have experienced wife abuse at some point in
their lives.
This research. using a social constructionist perspective which adheres to feminist principles,
will explore the multiple realities of wife abuse. It will thus continue the dialogue regarding
wife abuse, generating new narratives and alternative meanings that will hopefully contribute
toward a greater understanding of it.
Chapter one discusses the prevalence of wife abuse within South Africa as well as the
resultant effects. Chapter two attempts to document the long and insidious history of wife
abuse that was legitimised within the law until the rise of feminism. The importance of
feminism is discussed as part of the context. Chapter three discusses the "tools" to be used in
this dissertation and explores the way in which wife abuse has emerged as a social construct.
Chapter four reflects that the way in which wife abuse is meaningful to the participants is to a
large extent shaped by the collective representations thereof, which are then considered.
Chapter five discusses the social, psychological and legal response that has emerged because
wife abuse was named. Chapter six charts the way in which wife abuse is understood and
explicated through a feminist lens. Chapter seven is dedicated to the research methodology
adopted in this dissertation. The tenets of a social constructionist post-modern framework an;
explained, facilitating the ensuing discussion pertaining to the research design. Chapter eight
illuminates the themes that evolved in discussion with participants reflecting that the way in
which wife abuse is seen, perceived, experienced and understood is largely shaped by the
various roles of the participants. Chapter nine looks specifically at how each participant
constructs wife abuse. Chapter ten considers the way in which wife abuse is seen through the
lens of a survivor and the way in which she perceives the role of alternative systems. Finally
consideration is given to the absence of the "batterer''. Chapter eleven marks the last part of
the dissertation in which the research process and themes are reflected upon and conclusions
are drawn. finally chapter twelve critiques the research and makes recommendations for the
future Concluding thoughts are verbalised regarding the journey that was taken and the
journey that lies ahead.